Until the twentieth century, the sea remained synonymous with danger, but the development of recreational boating in recent decades has made sailing an increasingly accessible leisure activity.
A few years ago, sailing was still the privilege of the wealthy or the passionate. Today, websites such as MAIF's accompanied sailing offer allow novices to spend a day at sea with numerous sailors. Other platforms connect boat owners with individuals who can enjoy a few hours of sailing in exchange for a contribution to the shared expenses.
An abundant range of options is now available for all kinds of destinations, starting with France, which boasts more than 9 million occasional boaters.
The French Market: Sailboats for Every Budget
Those considering purchasing their own boat will find themselves spoiled for choice. After a significant slowdown in the wake of the 2008 crisis, the French recreational boating market has bounced back with rising sales and an overall turnover exceeding 4 billion euros across all sectors (source: Fédération des Industries Nautiques).
France remains the world leader in sailboat sales, driven by pioneering shipyards in the sector such as Bénéteau and Fountaine Pajot. Multihulls, in particular, have greatly benefited from the market recovery. These vessels, which are more stable, spacious, and faster than monohulls, enjoy a positive image among the public thanks to the achievements of sailors like Joyon, Cammas, Coville, or MacArthur, whose transoceanic routes are paved with superlatives. Now, shipyards such as Fountaine Pajot, Lagoon, or Outremer are heavily investing in new production units to meet the rising export demand boosted by the growth of emerging countries. However, the multihull market remains out of reach for the average budget, with entry-level prices for new models starting around 200,000 euros...
But no matter the bottle, as long as one gets drunk. The less affluent among the 4 million regular French boaters will also find options on a second-hand market marked by low prices, encouraging large transaction volumes between private individuals. In Brittany, second-hand sales remain predominant, accounting for about 90% of transactions. This trend is evidenced by the success of second-hand boat fairs such as Le Mille Sabords du Crouesty. Whether in newspaper classifieds or on Le Bon Coin, it is possible to find small sailboats under 10 meters to renovate for less than 10,000 euros. In this context, professional resellers have little incentive to overprice boats. Good news for buyers...
For those who dream of yacht racing without getting wet, one solution stands out: Virtual Regatta. Route du Rhum, Transat Jacques Vabre, Mini Transat, The Bridge, or the Jules Verne Trophy—all these offshore races are now accessible to everyone. After more than ten years of existence, this one-of-a-kind game has gained fans worldwide, reaching 460,000 participants during the virtual edition of the Vendée Globe 2016-2017. Enough to overload the site's traffic at the start of the solo round-the-world race...
The success of Virtual Regatta can be explained primarily by its easy access. The game's creator, Philippe Guigné from La Rochelle, wanted to develop an approach accessible to those unfamiliar with sailing. The highly functional site allows for quick and intuitive handling of the boat. There are also plenty of tutorials and other useful tips available on the user forum.
The virtual regatta starts simultaneously with the real race it follows. Players first choose a boat, which they can name as they wish. The screen consists of an interactive map on which players plot their sailboat's course based on wind forecasts, along with a dashboard for navigating the boat.
To avoid veering off course, players can select sails adapted to the wind's strength and direction. This is enough for casual fun, especially for beginners who are primarily interested in discovering the logic of racing and the routing options taken by real skippers.
Those aiming for the top spots (good luck with 450,000 participants!) can increase their chances by equipping their boat with the most efficient sails available online—a paid option in every sense of the word. Beyond that, the main work for the virtual navigator involves analyzing the weather data provided by the site. A positive strategy is to analyze the route choices of the best players and draw your own conclusions to become more autonomous.
Let’s be clear: this highly addictive game is perfect for insomniacs who won’t mind getting up at night to monitor their boat's course. However, if your spouse dislikes you being late for dinner, you’ll need to get organized...
As the well-known saying goes, it is in the storm that the captain is recognized. Whatever your sailing plan, you will need a minimum of knowledge to venture onto the water. To achieve nautical mastery that will allow you to sail safely and thus enjoy the experience, it is essential to take the time for training adapted to your goals... without skipping steps!
Nothing beats a dinghy for learning to steer, feel the wind, and adjust the sails. However, if your goal is to go on a cruise, starting your learning journey on a liveaboard remains a classic path that won’t disappoint. Most boaters agree on one point: nothing beats a weekend at sea to disconnect from everyday life. It's the addictive side of liveaboards, where notions of time and space are no longer the same as on land. In contact with the sea, life seems more intense while also offering time for oneself...
The French coastline is home to a variety of sailing areas suitable for all tastes and skill levels. In the Mediterranean, there are no tides, but turquoise waters and abundant sunshine, often accompanied by strong winds like the mistral and tramontane. The Atlantic coast also offers beautiful playgrounds, from the small ports of the Basque Country to the Breton islands, not to mention sailing in La Rochelle where you’ll find the largest marina in Europe, surrounded by the islands of Aix, Ré, and Oléron. Finally, those looking to tackle a more technical sailing area will surely be drawn to northern Brittany. Strong currents, rocky fields, and extraordinary landscapes await between the land of the abers, the Bay of Morlaix, the Pink Granite Coast, and the Channel Islands...
The more demanding the sailing area, the more you will need to rely on yourself to react effectively in case of damage.
Safety in sailing is paramount. For example, what would you do in case of a gale, fire, water ingress, an injured crew member, collision with a cargo ship, or evacuation? While these situations are rare, they remain possible. Without dramatizing or exaggerating the risks, being well-prepared is essential to practice safely.
French law does not require a license to sail a sailboat. However, boaters wishing to use an outboard motor with more than 6 horsepower must hold a coastal license to navigate within 6 miles of shelter (approximately ten kilometers).
Beyond that, the offshore license grants access to open waters without distance constraints from the coast. It is an excellent opportunity to clarify theoretical knowledge in chart navigation. The program includes: reading a nautical chart, calculating and plotting a course, understanding right-of-way rules, determining position, performing tide calculations, and learning the basics of marine weather. Perfect to keep busy during long winter evenings!
Until the twentieth century, the sea remained synonymous with danger, but the development of recreational boating in recent decades has made sailing an increasingly accessible leisure activity.
A few years ago, sailing was still the privilege of the wealthy or the passionate. Today, websites such as MAIF's accompanied sailing offer allow novices to spend a day at sea with numerous sailors. Other platforms connect boat owners with individuals who can enjoy a few hours of sailing in exchange for a contribution to the shared expenses.
An abundant range of options is now available for all kinds of destinations, starting with France, which boasts more than 9 million occasional boaters.
The French Market: Sailboats for Every Budget
Those considering purchasing their own boat will find themselves spoiled for choice. After a significant slowdown in the wake of the 2008 crisis, the French recreational boating market has bounced back with rising sales and an overall turnover exceeding 4 billion euros across all sectors (source: Fédération des Industries Nautiques).
France remains the world leader in sailboat sales, driven by pioneering shipyards in the sector such as Bénéteau and Fountaine Pajot. Multihulls, in particular, have greatly benefited from the market recovery. These vessels, which are more stable, spacious, and faster than monohulls, enjoy a positive image among the public thanks to the achievements of sailors like Joyon, Cammas, Coville, or MacArthur, whose transoceanic routes are paved with superlatives. Now, shipyards such as Fountaine Pajot, Lagoon, or Outremer are heavily investing in new production units to meet the rising export demand boosted by the growth of emerging countries. However, the multihull market remains out of reach for the average budget, with entry-level prices for new models starting around 200,000 euros...
But no matter the bottle, as long as one gets drunk. The less affluent among the 4 million regular French boaters will also find options on a second-hand market marked by low prices, encouraging large transaction volumes between private individuals. In Brittany, second-hand sales remain predominant, accounting for about 90% of transactions. This trend is evidenced by the success of second-hand boat fairs such as Le Mille Sabords du Crouesty. Whether in newspaper classifieds or on Le Bon Coin, it is possible to find small sailboats under 10 meters to renovate for less than 10,000 euros. In this context, professional resellers have little incentive to overprice boats. Good news for buyers...
For those who dream of yacht racing without getting wet, one solution stands out: Virtual Regatta. Route du Rhum, Transat Jacques Vabre, Mini Transat, The Bridge, or the Jules Verne Trophy—all these offshore races are now accessible to everyone. After more than ten years of existence, this one-of-a-kind game has gained fans worldwide, reaching 460,000 participants during the virtual edition of the Vendée Globe 2016-2017. Enough to overload the site's traffic at the start of the solo round-the-world race...
The success of Virtual Regatta can be explained primarily by its easy access. The game's creator, Philippe Guigné from La Rochelle, wanted to develop an approach accessible to those unfamiliar with sailing. The highly functional site allows for quick and intuitive handling of the boat. There are also plenty of tutorials and other useful tips available on the user forum.
The virtual regatta starts simultaneously with the real race it follows. Players first choose a boat, which they can name as they wish. The screen consists of an interactive map on which players plot their sailboat's course based on wind forecasts, along with a dashboard for navigating the boat.
To avoid veering off course, players can select sails adapted to the wind's strength and direction. This is enough for casual fun, especially for beginners who are primarily interested in discovering the logic of racing and the routing options taken by real skippers.
Those aiming for the top spots (good luck with 450,000 participants!) can increase their chances by equipping their boat with the most efficient sails available online—a paid option in every sense of the word. Beyond that, the main work for the virtual navigator involves analyzing the weather data provided by the site. A positive strategy is to analyze the route choices of the best players and draw your own conclusions to become more autonomous.
Let’s be clear: this highly addictive game is perfect for insomniacs who won’t mind getting up at night to monitor their boat's course. However, if your spouse dislikes you being late for dinner, you’ll need to get organized...
As the well-known saying goes, it is in the storm that the captain is recognized. Whatever your sailing plan, you will need a minimum of knowledge to venture onto the water. To achieve nautical mastery that will allow you to sail safely and thus enjoy the experience, it is essential to take the time for training adapted to your goals... without skipping steps!
Nothing beats a dinghy for learning to steer, feel the wind, and adjust the sails. However, if your goal is to go on a cruise, starting your learning journey on a liveaboard remains a classic path that won’t disappoint. Most boaters agree on one point: nothing beats a weekend at sea to disconnect from everyday life. It's the addictive side of liveaboards, where notions of time and space are no longer the same as on land. In contact with the sea, life seems more intense while also offering time for oneself...
The French coastline is home to a variety of sailing areas suitable for all tastes and skill levels. In the Mediterranean, there are no tides, but turquoise waters and abundant sunshine, often accompanied by strong winds like the mistral and tramontane. The Atlantic coast also offers beautiful playgrounds, from the small ports of the Basque Country to the Breton islands, not to mention sailing in La Rochelle where you’ll find the largest marina in Europe, surrounded by the islands of Aix, Ré, and Oléron. Finally, those looking to tackle a more technical sailing area will surely be drawn to northern Brittany. Strong currents, rocky fields, and extraordinary landscapes await between the land of the abers, the Bay of Morlaix, the Pink Granite Coast, and the Channel Islands...
The more demanding the sailing area, the more you will need to rely on yourself to react effectively in case of damage.
Safety in sailing is paramount. For example, what would you do in case of a gale, fire, water ingress, an injured crew member, collision with a cargo ship, or evacuation? While these situations are rare, they remain possible. Without dramatizing or exaggerating the risks, being well-prepared is essential to practice safely.
French law does not require a license to sail a sailboat. However, boaters wishing to use an outboard motor with more than 6 horsepower must hold a coastal license to navigate within 6 miles of shelter (approximately ten kilometers).
Beyond that, the offshore license grants access to open waters without distance constraints from the coast. It is an excellent opportunity to clarify theoretical knowledge in chart navigation. The program includes: reading a nautical chart, calculating and plotting a course, understanding right-of-way rules, determining position, performing tide calculations, and learning the basics of marine weather. Perfect to keep busy during long winter evenings!